UK government recognises ‘sustainable energy for all’ vital for the fight against extreme poverty

At the conclusion of the Clean Energy Ministerial conference, ONE welcomes the government’s support for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative. ONE also welcomes the practical commitments of the UK government to help 2 million people in some of the world’s poorest countries to access clean and reliable energy.

 Adrian Lovett, Europe Executive Director of ONE said:

 “It is good news that the government has begun to highlight just how vital providing access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy is for the fight against extreme poverty. Without modern energy people struggle to to cook food for their families and heat and light their homes. And it makes starting or growing a business difficult limiting economic growth in some of the poorest regions.

 “Under current plans half the population of sub-Saharan Africa will still be without electricity in 2030, caught in a poverty trap. If we are serious about helping people to lift themselves out of poverty governments must do more to support access to energy for all. The UK government should now build on this with international partners so by the Rio+20 conference in June the government can fully endorse the SE4ALL initiative and make further clear commitments to tackling energy poverty.”

 Notes to editors:

• The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy. http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/about/index.html 

• Sustainable Energy For All (SE4All) initiative was launched by the UN Secretary-General to mobilise global action to ensure universal access to modern energy services, to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, all by 2030. http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/ 

• The UK government announced it would help 2 million people in some of the world’s poorest countries to access clean and reliable energy. Speaking at the conference Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "Supporting some of the world’s poorest places to access energy doesn't just make humanitarian sense; it also makes good economic sense too. Reliable, sustainable sources of energy are crucial to stimulating growth and stability.”
• http://www.dfid.gov.uk/News/Latest-news/2012/Britain-backs-clean-energy-for-2m-poor-people/ 

• ONE is a global grassroots advocacy and campaigning organisation backed by 3 million people that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information, please visit www.ONE.org  

• For further information please contact Katherine Sladden katherine.sladden@one.org